The Textile Industry

Spinning was a cottage industry in many lands.Kuveni was spinning when prince Wijaya landed in Sri Lanka.Weaving was a domestic industry in England too, till the invention of the flying shuttle and the spinning Jeny.
                 These inventions simplified the use of machine.It could now be worked by power.It brought a tremendous change on human life, in terms of speed and volume..The modern textile technology has influenced the ready-made garment industry in Sri Lanka. Factories have been set up in cities and rural areas, providing employment for both men and women.Mostly young rural women have taken up employment in these

factories.Ready-made garment are exported to America, United Kingdom, France and other European countries.Fashion shows in modern trends are held in leading cities all over the world to promote the garments produced in Sri Lanka.The industry has become a leading foreign exchange earner for Sri Lanka.

MISTRESS

She.....

Enter to my heart

without my permission

But try to

hiding from my eyes

At once wander 

in my whole heart

But there..

only shed tears

Then..

escape frome me

Why such a cruel

My pretty mistress

Dreams

Dreams take us so far

May be it's become a real

Ever dreaming about only one dream

Which we can make a true

on the courage

The day will come

These dreams come true

Embroidery

 

Embroidery is the addition of pattern or other ornamental effect,to textiles by the use of the needle and thread.The wonder is that Kantha embrodidery uses only the simplest of stitches, the running stich.

                      The state of Bengal is famous for Kantha art.Kantha actually means ' embroidered quilt' .The embroidered quils of Bangalore are wonderful in their beauty, colour and design.

                       The Sanskrit word ' Kantha' means' rags'.It is a cottage industry, and is also a form of folk art.There are two types of embroidery.In one the old,discarded cotton sarees or dhotis are part one on top of the other and are quilted and embroidered.The other is quilted by using discarded cotton bedspreads.

                        The colours used for this embroidery are black, deep blue and red.These colours stand for the three basic aspects of nature-earth, sky and space.The designs used are of lotus flowers,creepers, foliage, floral scrolls and animal and human figures.

                        Today the Kantha embroidery is famous all around the globe.The old Kantha designs are priced possessions now.They are found on sleek shawls, sarees and bags.The village women spend a great deal of time and care in getting the perfect designs.

Sri Dalada Perahera

• Dalada Perahera is considered the oldest cultural event with an unchequered history in the world,going back to more than 2200 years.
• Dalada Procession has first commenced during the reign of King Kirthi Sri Megawanna( Kithsirimewan)(303-333 AD).
• This Procession is considered even as a world heritage.
• The rites of the perahera commence with the plantaion of kap in four Devalas on the day prior to amavaka moon day ( two week prior to full moom day) at an auspicious time fixed by the Nekath Mohottala ( Royal Astrologist).
• Thereafter they prepared kap plant and plant them within the premises of devalas.They conduct the kap procession for a period of five days.
• On the sixthday the Kumbal Perahera parades the street in which the Peramune Rala first rides on the Royal tusker while holding Perahera Ola Leaf Book in his hand.

• The following day Randoli Perahera parades the streets.Randoli mean the golden palanquin which had been used for the purpose of escorting the Relics of Buddha.
• Generally they are made with golden and silver and jewels embedded therein.
• Randoli perahera commences with the gun salute and four devala perahera start first.
• Thereafter the Kariyakarawana Rala ( Chief Monitoring Officer) informs the Diyawadana Nilame the commencement of devala perahera.
• Thereafter he informs the monks officiating in the shrine to take out the caskets enshrined with Relics of The Blessed One and Arahant Seevali Thero.
• Then they make arrangements to place the two caskets in the palanquins fixed on the back of the tuskers.
• In the pageant whip crackers go first and thereafter a large number of Kandyan dancing groups perform on the street.
• Therafter Peramune Rala rides on a tusk with the Perahera Ola Leaf Book.
• Next who rides on a tusker is the Gajanayaka Nilame( Officer in charge of elephants) with the silver goad.
• The Kariyakarawana Rala the chief Monitoring Officer also ride on a tusker.Subsequently three elephants lined up in order parade in the procession.
• The next item is the most important and relavant one. The Majestic Tusker strides in a most dignified and majestic manner carrying the golden palanquin in which the relics of The Blessed One is placed.
• That tusker is Caparisoned in a colourful costume decorated with beads and sequins, carrying the Tooth Relic.
• Generally around the one hundred caparisoned elephants take part in the procession among thousands of torch bears, traditional drummers, fire- juggling acrobats, musicians.
• Thereafter the tuskers with image of four Gods in four devals parade in the order of Natha Devala, Vishnu Devala, Kataragama Devala and Paththini Deavala.
• Sri Dalada procession ends with diyakapana ceremony ( water cutting ceremony) which takes place in the early morning of the day after the final Randoli pageant at the historic Getambe Diyakapana Thota ( water cutting ferry)  in the Mahaweli River.

Referances: Book of Sri Dalada
                       Wijedasa Rajapaksha

Unkown Princess

She...

Sometimes dance

before my eyes

Play for my silent heart

But...

Doesn't make any sound

I don't know

Who are you?

Unknown Princess

Kap Planting Ceremony of Sri Dalada Pageant

• Generally a virgin milk tree( a tree which has not produced any fruit) is selected to make use for the kap ceremony.
• And in the first place after cleaning around the tree and it is bathed with fragrance water and smoke.
• Thereafter Kapurala of devalas invite that if any God is living in that tree to leave it since they would cut the tree on the following day for kap planting ceremony.
• Earlier they had used a branch of an Esala tree and now they use a branch of Jak tree or Rukaththana tree.
• Kapurala of four main devalas bedecked with thier official dress bathe the part of that branch with milk, honey and turmeric water and further wrap a coconut flower at one end with a white cloth.
• Thereafter they plant them within the premises of devalas.